Henry james lewis



May 31,1927..

H. J. LEWIS COMBINED swITcH AND LIGHTNING Annmrn Filed Jan.23. i925 w w Q N. N N s Q w n Q L N www. a a I n N L www 111111111111111111 l |\\|11.11|\|ll ):v 8e b Il Ma Patented May 31, 1.927.

PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY JAMES LEWIS,` or JOHANNESBURG'; TRAN'svA'AL, SOUTH AFRICA.

COMBINED SWITCH ANI) LIGHTNING .ARRESTEIL Application filed Januaryy 23, 1925, Serial No. 4,314, and in Union of South Africa September 19, 1924.

Thisinvention relates to radio or wireless outside aerials.

The object of the invention is to construct a combined switch, lightning arrester and earthing safety device for use with outside radio or wireless aerials, .in-such a way that when the switch is placed in p'ositiontocon'- neet the aerial with the' receiving set, the lightning: arrester is placed iny operative position, and when the switch is placed in position to disconnectthe aerial from the receivingset', the earthing` safety device is placed in operative position.

The invention will be fully explained in connection withthe accompanyingdrawing.

wherein I illustrate a practical embodiment ofthe invention.

In the drawing Fig. 1 is a longitudinal part-sectional elevation ot the combined switch, lightning arrester and earthing 'safety devicegthe dotted lines representing the wall,` window frame, or portion of the building through whichth'e device is placed, andFig. 2 is a transverse sectional elevation ofv Fig. 1 Online :2c-x. n

In thev construction of the device I employv a tube 1 lof" appropriate dimensions which is preferably made of metal and fitted' with a bush orl liner 2 of suitable insulating'material. This tube 1y is adaptedto be placed in position in the wall, window frame.4 or other portion 3 of the building structure, topass from the exterior 4 to the interior 5 thereof.

To theeinner endj of the tube 1 there is attached a terminalfmember G'which is insulated from the tube 1' and attached metal parts by means of a piece 7. This terminal 'member 6 serves for connecting the aerial wire Sleading to the set or instrumentnot shown. Themember 6 is vcon'structedto allow of the insertion and-withdrawal ot'a metallic rod @having a header enlargedpor-tion 10 fittingthe bore ot the member 6, which rod whenn inserted, is`J adapted to engage with anmh'erA and similar suitable? metallic rod 11 whichpasses through the insulated tube`2', and formsf part 0fa make and break device between` thez aerial wire 12 and, through the rods 9 and 11 and" wire 8. the aerialiter'minal of thereceivingset. The member/6` carries ai terminal 13 for connecting itv by* wire 85 to the aerialterminal 0f the set. Said member 6 is constructed with bayonet slots lt and the head or enlargement 10 is fitted with pins 15 for making a-bayonetjoint between the partsG and 10, for detachably connectingvto said member 6 the removablerod 9 ofthe switch device. The rod 9 is attached to a handle 16 of nonconducting material, which serves for operating the switch. The handle portion 1G vith the attached rod 9 is shown connected by a cord 17 or other flexible means to a. 'flanged cylindrical piece 18 screwed on the inner end of the tube 1 and insulated .from the inner terminal member (5 by the piece 7.

The earth connection 19 from the set is shown attached to the flange of' the cylindrical piece 1S by terminal screw 20, and said liange also serves for securing the device in position by moans of screws 21' at' the inside 5 of the wall or building 3. 22 represents a screw passing through the flanged cylindrical piece 18 and fixing the bush 2 in position in the tube 1, and also preventing unscrewing of the cylindrical piece 18 ottl the tube 1.

' On the other and outer end of the tube 1 there is screwed or otherwise suitably fixed a cylindrical piece or head 23. This piece or head is preferably made of' suitable non-arcing brass,v or brass which is a good conductor but isy not destroyed by arcing. To this head or piece-23y there is preferably connected the earth terminal 24.

To the outer end of the piece or head 23 there is appropriately attached another terminal' 25 which serves for making the connection with theV wire 12 leading to the outside aerial. This terminal` 25 is shown sc- -cured in an insulatinglnish 26 screwed` into the outer eud of the piece or head 23. 27 is an insulating disc placed between the outer end ot' the"insulatiug bush 2G and a washer 28 on terminal 25. for preventing leakage of the'v incoming current from the aerial terminal 2.5.

Inside`V the head 23', but insulated therefrom, there is arrangeda spira-l spring` 29 which at one end bears againsta washer 30 with which the screw of the terminal -25 contacts, and at the other end is in contact with a head' or flange 31 provided at or near that end ofj the slidable rod 11 which is housed and Works insidey the-head 23. The

head or flange 31 is milled or constructed with peripheral projections, teeth or serrations, and is also made of nonarcing metal or metal which is a good conductor but is not destroyed by arcing. The 1nside of the head 23, as shown, is provided with projections, teeth or seri-ations 32, which may be provided by forming a screwtliread through it, the screw-thread 32 serving at the ends to make the connection with the metal tube 1 at the one end and the terminal insulating bush 26 at the other. The serrated or toothed head or flange 31 is made of slightly smaller diameter than the internal diameter of the internally threaded head 23, so as to form between them a suitable arcing gap to operate as an effective lightning arrester when the set is in use. y

Means are provided for forming an effective guide and contact for that end of the slidable rod 11 which carries the serrated flange or head 31, to preclude the possibility of accidental earth contact. Such means are shown comprising the provision of an extension or continuation 33 of the slidable rod 11 beyond the flange or head 31, and the formation of a hole 34, tapered at the mouth, in the inner end of the head of the screw of the aerial terminal 25. 35 is a bush or inside collar screwed inside the head 23 with which the head or flange 31 is adapted to contact when the aerial is switched off from the set.

When the switch is operated to connect the receiving set to the aerial the removable rod 9 is inserted and the slidable rod 11 pushed forward by it, contact is made between the slidable rod 11 and the screw of the outside aerial terminal 25, and a straightethrough metallic contact is thus made between the outside and inside aerial wires 12, 8, respectively, and the lightning arrester is ready to act. 1

Vhen the switch oi' removable rod 9 is withdrawn, the toothed or serrated flange or head 31 is pushed or operated by the spring 29 and makes firm and intimate contact with the bush or inside collar 35 fixed in the head 23, thereby earthing the outside aerial wire 12. The electrical connection between the aerial wiie 12 and earth terminal 24, when the switch or removable .rod 9 is withdrawn to break the connection be tween the aerial and receiving set, is made through terminal 25, metal. washer 30, spring 29, Vserrated head 31, bush or inside collar 35 and head 23. The removalof the rod 9 breaks the contact between the rod 11 and they aerial wire 8 leading to the instrument or set.

` What I claim as my invention and desire to protect by Letters Patent is 1. A device of the kind described for use with outsideradio orwireless aerials, comnostros-1 prising in combination a switch, a lightning arrester, and a safety earthing device, the switch including a slidable rod, a handle attached to said rod, a member to which is attached the aerial terminal for the receiving set, a bayonet joint between the slidable rod and said member, a further rod with which the slidable rod co-operates, and apart attached to said further rod which cooperates with the earth terminal to serve as the lightning arrester when the contact is made through the switch to the aerial terminal of the receiving set, as set forth.

2. A device of the kind described for use with outside radio or Wireless aerials, comprising in combination a switch, a lightning arrester, and a safety earthing device, the switch including a slidable rod, a handle attached to said rod, a member to which is attached the aerial terminal for the receiving set, means for connecting the slidable rod to said member, a further rod with which thev slidable rod co-operates, a part attached to said further rod which co-operates with the earth terminal to serve as the lightning arrester when the contact is made through the switch to the aerial terminal of the receiving set, and a spring co-o erating with said part on the further rod or operating said further rod to co-operate with the earth terminal to form the earthing safety device, as set forth.

3. A device of the kind described for use with outside radio or wireless aerials, comprising in combination a switch, a lightning arrester, and a safety earthing device, the switch including a slidable rod, a handle attached to said rod, a member to which is attached the aerial terminal for the receiving set, means for connecting the slidable rod to said member, a further rod with which the slidable rod co-operates, a part attached to said further rod which co-oper ates with the earth terminal to serve as the lightning arrester when the contact is made through the switch to the aerial terminal of the receiving set, and a spring co-operating with said part on the further rod for operating said further rod to (To-operate with the earth terminal to form the earthing safety device, the fiirthei' rod having an extension which serves as a guide and contact and is adapted to engage withthe outside aerial terminal when the switch is operated to make the contact between the outside aerial and the inside aerial terminals, as set forth.

4. A device of the kind described for use with outside radio or wireless aerials, comprising in combination a switch, a lifhtning arrester, and a safety earthing device, the switch including a slidable rod, a lfurther rod withwhich said slidable rod is adapted to engage, said further rod being operatively combined with the lightning arrester and earthing safety device, a tubular casing for said rod and further rod, an insulating safety device and also the outside aerial and hush in said casing, the easing` at the inner earth terminals, the easing serving for conend carrying the switch and a part insulated ducting the earthing Current from the set to 10 from said switch for connecting to the inthe outside earth terminal, as set forth.

side earth terminal, and a further part at- In testimony whereof I have signed my tached to the easing at the outer end for name to this specification.

carrying the lightning arrester and earthing` HENRY JAMES LEWIS. 

